Guiding and positioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention resides in an apparatus for guiding and positioning a generally vertically depending element to a preselected location. First and second guiding elements are pivotally attached to an underlying directing element which has sloping inner surfaces. First and second contacting members of the respective guiding elements are maintained above the directing element in an intersecting relationship relative one to the other.

United States Patent [191 Knief Feb. 5, 1974 GUIDING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Chester L. Knief, Bartlesville, Okla.

[52] US. Cl 166/.5, 175/5, 285/27 [51] Int. Cl E211) 33/035 [58] Field of Search... 175/5, 7; 285/24, 27; 33/185,

Deal 175/7 X Postlewaite 175/7 X Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Favreau Attorney, Agent, or FirmQuigg & Oberlin [57] ABSTRACT This invention resides in an apparatus for guiding and positioning a generally vertically depending element to a preselected location. First and second guiding elements are pivotally attached to an underlying directing element which has sloping inner surfaces. First and second contacting members of the respective guiding [56] References Cited elements are maintained above the directing element UNITED STATES PATENTS in an intersecting relationship relative one to the 2,540,451 2/1951 Kelley 175/85 x other, 2,690,847 10/1954 Crookston 175/85 X 2,984,308 5/1961 Bauer et a1. 175/7 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEB 5:914

llll FIG. 3

GUIDING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS It is desirable to provide an apparatus for guiding a generally vertically depending element to a preselected location. More specifically, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for guiding and positioninga downwardly depending conduit relative to the bore hole of a well, for example a well drilled beneath the surface of a body of water.

This invention therefore resides in an apparatus for guiding and positioning a generally vertically depending element to a preselected location. First and second guiding elements are pivotally attached to an underlying directing element which has sloping inner surfaces. First and second contacting members of the respective guiding elements are maintained above the directing element in an intersecting relationship relative one to the other.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and the drawings.

The drawings are diagrammatic views of the apparatus of this invention. FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of the apparatus installed on a well positioned beneath the surface of a body of water for guiding a conduit depending from a drilling barge for example, FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus of this invention, and FIG. 3 shows a frontal view of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 2 of this invention is positioned on top of a blowout preventer 4, for example, which is connected to casing 6 which is installed in a well 8 drilled at an offshore location located beneath the surface 10 of a body of water. The apparatus 2 is for guiding and positioning well equipment, for example a conduit 12 depending generally from a drilling barge, into the well 8. It should be understood, however, that the apparatus can be used for guiding and positioning elements other than those elements in the petroleum industry.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a directing element 14 has a downwardly and inwardly extending inner surface 16 for receiving the element 12 to be positioned thereby.

First and second guiding elements 18, 20 each have a first and second spaced-apart legs 22, 24 connected at their first end portions 30 to a respective contacting member 28, 28. Each of the guiding elements 18, 20 is pivotally connected at the second end portion 26 of their respective legs 22, 24 to opposed sides of the directing element 14 with each of said contacting members 28, 28' maintained above and at a higher elevation than the directing element 14 by stop means 27. The first and second guiding elements 18, 20 are positioned relative to the directing element 14 and are oriented such that the contacting member 28 of the first guiding element 18 extends across the contacting member 28' of the second guiding element 20.

Preferebly, the first and second guiding elements 18, 20 are attached at locations whereby their contacting elements 28, 28' are oriented relative one to the other at an angle of about 90. At angles less or greater than about 90, a greater strain will be placed on the elements 18, 20 when said elements are contacted by the depending element 12 and pivoted to guide the element 12 into the well 8 for example.

It is also preferred that the contacting elements 28, 28 be substantially horizontal to further facilitate the guiding of element 12.

The inner surface 16 of the directing element 14 preferably extends downwardly to an opening 32 and the first and second guiding elements 18, 20 are each pivotable to locations at which each contacting member 28, 28' is laterally spaced from said opening. By this construction, a conduit 12 can be guided into the well 8 for example, but after positioning in the well the contacting elements 28, 28 will be spaced from the conduit 12 thereby preventing wear and damage during rotation, reciprocation, or other manipulations of said conduit 12.

In the operation of this invention, the conduit or element 12 is positioned at an elevation above the directing element 14 but below the contacting members 28, 28'. The conduit 12 can then be moved laterally into contact with the contacting members 28, 28' which will cause said members to pivot to a position at which an angular shaped barrier is formed by the crossing contacting members 28, 28' (see arrows and broken lines of FIG. 2). Further lateral movement of the element 12 will move the conduit 12 along one of the contacting members to a location at the intersection of the contacting members 28, 28' and above the sloping surface of the directing element 14. The conduit 12 is then lowered into contact with the inner surface 16 of the directing element 14 which will direct the conduit 12 during further movement into the opening 32 and the underlying well bore.

By the use of this apparatus an element 12 can approach a well from any quadrant and be guided by the device of this invention to a preselected location such as a well bore. The combination of the sloping inner surface of the directing element and the pivotal connection of the contacting members permit the element to thereafter be positioned in the well while being spaced from said contacting members.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawing, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for guiding a generally vertically depending element to a preselected location, comprising:

a directing element having an opening extending therethrough with an upper portion of said opening extending downwardly and inwardly relative to an axis of said opening with said axis being positioned at said preselected location;

first and second guiding elements each having first and second spaced-apart legs connected at their first end portions by a contacting member, said first and second elements each being pivotally connected at the second end portion of the legs to the opposed sides of the directing element with the contacting member of the first guiding element extending across the contacting member of the second guiding element; and

stop means for maintaining each of said contacting members above and at a higher elevation than the upper portion of the opening of the directing element.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the contacting elements each have an axis with said axis 4 ing.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing and guiding elements are positioned at a location beneath the surface of a body of water.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing element is positioned above the bore hole of a well. 

1. An apparatus for guiding a generally vertically depending element to a preselected location, comprising: a directing element having an opening extending therethrough with an upper portion of said opening extending downwardly and inwardly relative to an axis of said opening with said axis being positioned at said preselected location; first and second guiding elements each having first and second spaced-apart legs connected at their first end portions by a contacting member, said first and second elements each being pivotally connected at the second end portion of the legs to the opposed sides of the directing element with the contacting member of the first guiding element extending across the contacting member of the second guiding element; and stop means for maintaining each of said contacting members above and at a higher elevation than the upper portion of the opening of the directing element.
 2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the contacting elements each have an axis with said axis being oriented relative one to the other at an angle of about 90*.
 3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the contacting members are substantially horizontal.
 4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the directing element extends downwardly to an opening and said first and second guiding elements are each pivotal to locations at which each contacting member is latErally spaced from said opening.
 5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing and guiding elements are positioned at a location beneath the surface of a body of water.
 6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing element is positioned above the bore hole of a well. 